The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear on October 10 a Public Interest Litigation demanding a CBI probe into the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, allegedly caused by the consumption of toxic cough syrup.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai said the matter would be taken up for hearing on Friday after advocate Vishal Tiwari mentioned it for urgent listing.
Call For Judicial Oversight & National-Level Inquiry
The PIL, filed by advocate Tiwari, seeks the formation of a National Judicial Commission or Expert Committee, chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge, to oversee a thorough inquiry into the manufacture, testing, regulation, and distribution of contaminated cough syrups containing Diethylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol (EG) — the same toxic chemicals linked to previous fatalities in India and abroad.
Tiwari’s plea urges the Centre to establish a national-level body to identify regulatory lapses that allowed substandard cough syrups to enter the market and to recommend measures for preventing future tragedies.
The proposed panel, he suggested, should include experts in pharmacology, toxicology, and drug regulation.
Demand For Centralised Investigation
The PIL further seeks the transfer of all ongoing FIRs and investigations related to the child deaths to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), under the supervision of a former Supreme Court judge, to ensure a coordinated and impartial probe.
The petition criticises the current state-level inquiries for producing “fragmented accountability,” arguing that such an approach has allowed the recurrence of toxic drug incidents across states.
Toxic Syrup Linked To Tamil Nadu Firm
According to reports cited in the petition, several children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan died after consuming Coldrif Cough Syrup, a formulation manufactured by M/s Sresan Pharma Pvt. Ltd., based in Tamil Nadu.
The plea calls for the immediate recall, seizure, and suspension of sale of all batches of Coldrif Cough Syrup and other products manufactured by the company, pending toxicological clearance from independent NABL-accredited laboratories.
Plea For Stronger Drug Safety Measures
The petition also seeks a nationwide mandatory testing of all syrup-based pharmaceutical formulations to detect the presence of DEG and EG, with results to be publicly disclosed for transparency and consumer safety.
Additionally, it demands suspension or cancellation of licenses of pharmaceutical companies found involved in manufacturing or distributing contaminated medicines and calls for criminal prosecution of those responsible for the deaths.
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